AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN) was downgraded by stock analysts at ValuEngine from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Friday.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on AN. Susquehanna Bancshares Inc initiated coverage on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $49.00 target price for the company. Evercore ISI lowered shares of AutoNation from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Jefferies Group LLC restated a “hold” rating and set a $49.00 price objective on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Monday, February 6th. TheStreet downgraded shares of AutoNation from a “b-” rating to a “c+” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG restated a “hold” rating and set a $50.00 price objective (down from $52.00) on shares of AutoNation in a research note on Saturday, April 29th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $48.40.

Shares of AutoNation (AN) opened at 39.82 on Friday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $40.74 and its 200-day moving average price is $45.33. AutoNation has a 52-week low of $38.20 and a 52-week high of $54.15. The firm has a market cap of $4.03 billion, a PE ratio of 9.42 and a beta of 1.05.

In other news, EVP Jonathan P. Ferrando sold 17,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.31, for a total transaction of $770,270.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Jonathan P. Ferrando sold 110,430 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.86, for a total transaction of $4,953,889.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 374,929 shares of company stock valued at $16,913,590. Company insiders own 2.90% of the company’s stock. Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AN. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its position in AutoNation by 43.8% in the first quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,285 shares of the company’s stock worth $139,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Blenheim Capital Management BV purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the fourth quarter worth about $144,000. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale boosted its stake in shares of AutoNation by 178.4% in the first quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 4,454 shares of the company’s stock worth $198,000 after buying an additional 2,854 shares during the last quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the first quarter worth about $205,000. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS purchased a new stake in shares of AutoNation during the first quarter worth about $206,000. Institutional investors own 66.90% of the company’s stock.